Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Victoria Terrasse, Oslo. Photo: P. Foss, MFA
The Ministry’s tasks
The essential task of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to work for Norway’s interests internationally: to safeguard the country’s freedom, security and prosperity. Norway’s interests are determined by such factors as its geographical location in a strategically important area, its open economy, its position as a coastal state and steward of substantial marine resources, and its extensive exports of oil and gas.
The best way to promote Norway’s interests is to cooperate with like-minded countries. This also means that the Foreign Service must handle conflicts of interest with other countries in a manner that is to Norway’s advantage, while seeking to avoid disputes.
The Ministry also works to promote peace and security, an international legal system, an economically just world order and sustainable development. Finding a solution to issues of this kind is in Norway’s interests too, while at the same time efforts in these areas are an expression of international solidarity.
Norway must at all times “speak with one voice”, in accordance with the main contours of Norwegian foreign policy. This means that the Ministry has an important coordination and advisory role in relation to the other ministries. As a specialist ministry, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is both a preparatory and an executive body in connection with foreign policy questions, economic foreign policy issues and development-related matters.
In addition, the Foreign Service is responsible for giving help, advice and protection to Norwegian nationals vis-à-vis foreign authorities, as well as assisting Norwegian citizens abroad in connection with criminal proceedings, accidents, illness and death.
Organisation
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the 101 foreign service missions, which include embassies, permanent delegations and general consulates, together make up the Foreign Service. The Foreign Service is an international, knowledge-based organisation, currently made up of around 2435 people, of whom 820 are Ministry employees. At the foreign service missions, 620 staff members posted from Norway work alongside around 995 locally employed staff. A number of special delegates sent from various ministries and institutions in Norway are also connected to the foreign service missions.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the largest ministry in the Norwegian government administration.
The Secretary General and two Deputy Secretary Generals are the highest senior officials in the Ministry and are responsible for its general management.
